--- title: "Bruce A. Harwood | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/bruce-a-harwood-8876" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Bruce A. Harwood U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire · U.S. Bankruptcy Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire - State: New Hampshire - Role: U.S. Bankruptcy Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Bruce A. Harwood held the role of a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the District of New Hampshire beginning in March 2013, became chief judge May 9, 2013, and retired August 12, 2024 - The Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire from 2013 until his retirement in August 2024, after more than a decade of service - Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit - Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, from 2014-02-26 - Bankruptcy practice in Chicago; joined Sheehan, Phinney, Bass & Green in 1987 - Began bankruptcy practice at a Chicago firm and moved to New Hampshire in 1987 - His legal career began in Chicago at Schwartz Cooper Kolb & Gaynor, where he was an associate from 1981–86. - At Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green he became a shareholder and chaired its bankruptcy, insolvency and creditors’ rights group ### Education - His academic qualifications include a Northwestern political science B.A. in 1978 and a Washington University law degree in 1981. - undergraduate degree — Northwestern University — 1978 ### Additional information - Retired from the New Hampshire bankruptcy bench on August 11, 2024. - Judicial service end: effective date: 2024-08-11; reason: retired - U.S. bankruptcy judge, New Hampshire, 2013–2024; retired August 11, 2024. - Joined the court on March 11, 2013. - He graduated from Northwestern in 1978 and Washington University’s law school in 1981. - Practitioner, Sheehan, Phinney, Bass, and Green - Ch. - 7 Panel Trustee, U.S. Bankruptcy Court - District of New Hampshire - Practitioner, Schwartz Cooper Kolb & Gaynor - Before becoming a judge, he practiced bankruptcy law in Chicago and spent roughly 25 years at Sheehan Phinney in New Hampshire. - His professional work includes bankruptcy lectures and publications, American Bankruptcy Institute leadership, bar association memberships and American College of Bankruptcy fellowship. - He also held the role of a Chapter 7 panel trustee in the District of New Hampshire and mediated debtor–creditor disputes - Before joining the court, Harwood was a shareholder and chair of the Bankruptcy, Insolvency, and Creditors’ Rights Group at Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green in Manchester, NH, where he worked for 25 years. - He also held the role of a Chapter 7 panel trustee and mediator. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### motion form Scope: courtwide Request an order by written motion unless the rules authorize an application or the request is made during a hearing. State the grounds with particularity and specify the requested relief or order. Evidence excerpt: A motion must state its grounds with particularity and set forth the relief or order requested. [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### motion notice timing Scope: courtwide Unless a motion may be heard ex parte or another period applies, serve the written motion and hearing notice at least seven days before the hearing. Serve supporting affidavits with the motion. Evidence excerpt: A written motion (other than one that may be heard ex parte) and notice of any hearing must be served at least 7 days before the hearing date, unless the court or these rules set a different period. [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### contested matter notice Scope: courtwide In a contested matter not otherwise governed by the bankruptcy rules, request relief by motion and give the opposing party reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard. A response is required only if the court orders one. Evidence excerpt: Reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard must be given to the party against whom relief is sought. No response is required unless the court orders otherwise. [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### disputed fact testimony Scope: courtwide Present witness testimony on a disputed material factual issue in the same manner as testimony in an adversary proceeding. Evidence excerpt: A witness's testimony on a disputed material factual issue must be taken in the same manner as testimony in an adversary proceeding. [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### evidentiary hearing notice Scope: courtwide Use the court's procedure to determine, reasonably before a scheduled hearing, whether it will be an evidentiary hearing at which witnesses may testify. Evidence excerpt: The court must provide procedures that allow parties-at a reasonable time before a scheduled hearing-to determine whether it will be an evidentiary hearing at which witnesses may testify. [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### evidence rules Scope: courtwide Prepare evidence under the Federal Rules of Evidence and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 43, 44, and 44.1, which apply in bankruptcy cases. Evidence excerpt: The Federal Rules of Evidence and Fed. R. Civ. P. 43, 44, and 44.1 apply in a bankruptcy case. [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### oath or affirmation Scope: courtwide A solemn affirmation may substitute when an oath is required. The national rule identifies the bankruptcy judge, clerk, deputy clerk, U.S. trustee, and other authorized officers as persons who may administer it. Evidence excerpt: If an oath is required, a solemn affirmation suffices. [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8876/bruce-a-harwood/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8876/bruce-a-harwood/) - [U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8876/bruce-a-harwood/) - [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8876/bruce-a-harwood/) - [Bruce A. Harwood - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Bruce_A._Harwood) - [BR/MAG Judge Database: Bruce A. Harwood](https://legaldatalab.law.virginia.edu/brmag-judges/brmag-judges.json) - [Chief Bankruptcy Judge Bruce Harwood Retires After More Than a ...](https://www.nhbar.org/chief-bankruptcy-judge-bruce-harwood-retires-after-more-than-a-decade) - [New Hampshire supplied research: harwood-retirement](https://www.nhbar.org/chief-bankruptcy-judge-bruce-harwood-retires-after-more-than-a-decade/) - [New Hampshire supplied research: bacher-selection](https://www.nhb.uscourts.gov/news/kimberly-bacher-selected-next-united-states-bankruptcy-judge-district-new-hampshire) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8876/bruce-a-harwood/) - [Bruce A. Harwood - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Bruce_A._Harwood) - [BR/MAG Judge Database: Bruce A. Harwood](https://legaldatalab.law.virginia.edu/brmag-judges/brmag-judges.json) - [Chief Bankruptcy Judge Bruce Harwood Retires After More Than a ...](https://www.nhbar.org/chief-bankruptcy-judge-bruce-harwood-retires-after-more-than-a-decade) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/bruce-a-harwood-8876", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/bruce-a-harwood-8876", "name": "Bruce A. Harwood | KnowJudges", "description": "Bruce A. Harwood, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/bruce-a-harwood-8876#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/bruce-a-harwood-8876#judge", "name": "Bruce A. 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